Dec 7, 2015

GuestSpeak: Land of the dying farmers

India is one of those countries where we can see all people from all faiths thriving side by side. People come to India from all our the world because of our education system and for the many opportunities we give. But being Indian I have often wondered why the government isn't doing enough to help our farmers. Farmers are our nation's backbone.

They put their sweat and tears to grow food that we eat (and waste). Yet they aren't getting a good yield and don't have a fixed price from the government. So who should we blame? Do you think government is main responsible for farmers death? I believe it is.

Why the government isn't able to control farmer suicides in India?

Having seen farmers closely, I feel Indian farmers are struggling because they don’t have fixed price for their crops and when farmers take loans for the cultivation for their crops either from co-operative bank or from nationalized bank, the loan amount will not be given to them at the proper interest rates, because loan amount has to be proceed through field officer for filed officer they have to pay some amount of money to release their amount by the time seeds are sowed, its time they applied pesticides and the delay caused a cascading effect. The amount they have borrowed grows and the interest that accrues exceeds the principle and when the crops fail, they cannot pay the money. Ones who survive, will barely exist or profit because there isn't a set mechanism in the government.

Do you think the government is unaware of their problems?

Elected bodies take oath in the name farmers but they do nothing for farmers. As a writer and a concerned citizen, I pray that the government, on behalf of farmers, provides them with high quality seeds and releases timely loans for the cultivation for their crops, to fix a standard price for every produce so that we can save the foundation of our agrarian nation. I feel farmers a forgotten lot because we are only exposed to consumer goods from malls or from markets. But do you think these products or directly brought from farmers? No. Middlemen end up buying the produce from the farmer at rates which are bad for the farmer and sell them at a premium.We forget our lives are beautiful because of the daily toil our farmers put in.

Can the government fix this problem?

Yes, please open crop insurances in villages, where people can get their money even if their harvest fails. Buy produce directly from farmers so that they can also live a respectable life too. The Government can open separate market for all the produce to avoid harvests getting spoiled or rotten. Think about this - Our farmers are not happy. They should get a proper life and live a life worth living. You and I can help them live a worthwhile life. Support our farmers.